A 21-year-old convicted felon is back in custody after Chicago police say he went on an overnight robbery blitz that included an aggravated kidnapping and a forced ATM run across parts of the Southwest Side and North Lawndale. Investigators with the Citywide Robbery Task Force said they tied him to a rapid pattern of stickups using victim statements and digital forensics. He is scheduled to appear in Cook County court on Friday.
What police say
According to the Chicago Police Department, the 21-year-old is facing multiple felony counts, including aggravated kidnapping and armed robbery, and is already a convicted felon. Detectives said they executed a warrant to bring him in and credited victim interviews and digital forensic work with helping pinpoint their suspect. Police noted in the initial social media update that full charging documents and bond details were not yet available.
The alleged crime spree
The string of crimes unfolded on Nov. 19 in roughly a 30-minute window, with several armed offenders approaching people, flashing guns and demanding property, sometimes hitting victims in the head or face, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. In the first reported case, officers were called to the 1700 block of South Keeler Avenue after a man was yanked from his vehicle and beaten, the paper reported. Other incidents were logged in the 4100 block of West 26th Street and the 2800 block of South Komensky Avenue. One victim told police he was forced into a car and driven to multiple ATMs, where suspects pressured him to pull out cash.
How detectives linked the suspect
Detectives ultimately matched victim descriptions with digital evidence to identify the 21-year-old and arrested him on Dec. 4 after executing a warrant, according to FOX 32 Chicago. That outlet reported that investigators believe he was part of a crew that targeted people on sidewalks and in cars while wearing dark clothing and ski masks. The Citywide Robbery Task Force is still searching for additional suspects tied to the pattern.
Background on the suspect
The man now charged in the spree has a serious firearm history. In August, CWB Chicago reported that Marquis Terry pleaded guilty to possession of a machine gun after school officials found a loaded .45 caliber Glock in his locker. Court records in that earlier case also showed prior juvenile probation and parole matters, the outlet reported. Prosecutors said the gun had an illegal “switch” that allowed automatic fire. That record could loom large when a judge weighs the new charges and any bond decision.
Next steps and community response
The suspect is expected in Cook County court on Friday, where the State’s Attorney will review the case file and consider formal charges, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. In a separate interview, 22nd Ward Alderman Mike Rodriguez called the wave of masked, armed robberies intolerable and urged neighbors to work with detectives, ABC7 Chicago reported. Police are asking anyone with information about the robberies to send anonymous tips through CPDTip.com.
